Book-filled Detroit bus stop benches are hottest seats in town

Jul. 17, 2013

Charles Molnar, Wayne State University student and owner of Sit on It Detroit, works with Marcus Finley building a bench for the Heidelberg Project at his wood shop on July 10, 2013, in Hamtramck. / Andre J. Jackson/Detroit Free Press

Written by

Marlon A. Walker

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

Charles Molnar, Wayne State University student and owner of Sit on it Detroit sands a bench for the Heidelberg Project at his wood shop Wednesday, July 10, 2013 in Hamtramck, Mich. Marielle Kouassi/Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press

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Charles Molnar hunches over his latest bench in the humid workshop, sanding down a piece of reclaimed wood for the bench seat while another man sands the back of it.

This bench will be a tribute for his dentist’s wife. He’s also building benches and picnic tables for the Heidelberg Project area and said he’s excited to see those pieces in place, especially after they’re clad in the polka dots known throughout the two-block project on the city’s east side.

“That’s gonna be awesome,” said Molnar, 23, a student at Wayne State University.

Two months ago, Molnar only wanted to put his benches — made of reclaimed wood from demolished homes in the Detroit area and packed with books to read — at city bus stops for residents waiting for their rides. But Detroit Department of Transportation officials said they would remove any benches placed at bus stops because they hadn’t been approved by the city.

Undeterred, Molnar kept building and kept placing benches at several stops around the city. DDOT’s position drew support for Molnar’s initiative — along with orders for benches and anything else he could make from the reclaimed wood.

Molnar said he’s met with city engineers, who gave him regulations for installing benches and paperwork for maintenance, for which he’ll be responsible. City engineers did not respond to messages for comment, but DDOT Assistant Director Angelica Jones confirmed Molnar met with them.

The spike in demand meant Molnar needed to recruit others to help with the orders.

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He has gotten interest from Hamtramck’s beautification leaders as well as groups in other cities across the country. Eric Powers, merchandiser for the Heidelberg Project, said the group was impressed with Molnar’s determination to continue his work, despite the initial opposition from city officials.

“I felt like that would be a perfect linkage between our organization and his,” Powers said. “The dedication to keep going steadfastly despite opposition from the city ... was so intrinsic with (Heidelberg creator) Tyree (Guyton’s) vision.”

Powers said the pieces should be beneficial since the project, located on Heidelberg Street near the Elba Ellery Park, is trying to get visitors to “think of us more as a public park,” so they leave their cars to visit the exhibits and on-site gift shop.

Much of his recent work is for paying customers, which will help fund supplies for the bus stop benches. Soon, he’ll be working with interns from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and area high school students who want to volunteer their time to get more benches built.

So far, eight benches have been built and placed at city stops. The first one, put on Jefferson at Lillibridge, was taken up by students from Detroit Enterprise Academy who were afraid DDOT officials would remove it.

In the corner of his workspace, donated space in the Omni Properties building on Christopher Street, a partially made bench is waiting to be finished. It will be the next one to go to a bus stop, Molnar said.

“It’s been crazy how much we’re doing,” he said. “But there will be another one at a bus stop soon.”